Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

Here is a look at how the National Football League draft of 2014 is shaping up based on interviews with three executives in personnel last week. As of early last week, a total of 201 underclassmen had requested evaluations from the NFL's College Advisory Committee. They have until Jan. 15 to declare for the draft.

RECEIVERS

The last draft with more than four first-round wide receivers was 2009. After two below-average to poor wideout drafts, this one should be much better.

"Hypothetically, there are seven first-round projections," one scout said.

"Very average as a senior group," said another scout. "The juniors will enhance every position. When you start to see these redshirt sophomores and juniors come out in droves like they have, you're going to rely on them for a draft."

Watkins has 4.35-second speed in the 40-yard dash and excellent hands.

"True playmaker and he's a returner as well," one scout said of Watkins." Lee will be one of the top players in the draft. Very good speed. He was injured a lot this year and didn't have quite the numbers you're looking for, but he's a top-10 pick."

Evans had 65 receptions for 1,322 yards (20.3) and 12 touchdowns.

"More of a strider but very sure-handed," one scout said. "He's got phenomenal size. He understands how to use his size to post up."

Beckham is a precise route runner with superb skill after the catch. Benjamin is talented but raw.

Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis (6-1, 190) is going to the Senior Bowl after a 73-catch season. He scored 32 on the Wonderlic intelligence test.

"He's going to be drafted in the third or fourth round but will be a competitive player from Day 1," one scout said. "If he goes to Denver or New England, he may catch 80 balls in his rookie year. He runs good routes. He'll be a slot receiver."

Seferian-Jenkins tends to be more of a receiver as well but has the size to grow into a blocker.

"He's going to be close to (Rob) Gronkowski, talent-wise," one scout said. "Now he's lazy. Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block."

Iowa's C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-5˝, 265) might be the best senior and should be gone by the third round.

Colt Lyerla (6-5, 250) was arrested for cocaine possession in October several weeks after leaving Oregon as a junior.

"He's the wild card in this whole thing," one scout said. "Extremely talented kid. Is he going to be the Aaron Hernandez kind of player, a first-round talent that somebody got in the fourth? But just a real nightmare in that regard (off the field)."

OFFENSIVE LINE

Personnel men don't see a franchise left tackle in the draft but it's still another strong, deep position.

"There's probably five tackles that can go in the first round," one scout said. "Six if you factor in the Auburn kid.

"Everybody knows what they get with Jake Matthews. (Cyrus) Kouandjio is a good player. Taylor Lewan's a good player. The other tackle (Cedric Ogbuehi) from Texas A&M is a good player. They're all first-rounders."

Matthews (6-4˝, 305) is a four-year starter who moved from RT to LT this season. His father, Bruce, was a Hall of Fame offensive lineman.

"Good, not a great athlete," one scout said. "Really good technician. He's a little soft. Not that he won't be a really good player."

"The Alabama guy still makes raw mistakes," said one scout. "He's got more up side than Matthews. I think he's smart. He just doesn't have much football background."

Ogbuehi (6-5, 300), another junior, might have played better at guard in 2012 before moving to RT. "This is a left tackle in the league," one scout said.

The "Auburn kid" is Greg Robinson (6-5, 315), a redshirt sophomore. After turning in a superb performance against Missouri's Kony Ealy on Dec.7, he might become one of the first offensive linemen to enter the NFL as a redshirt sophomore.

"He's a stud," said one scout. "Left tackle. You're talking about a ton of athleticism, size, strength. He's not getting a lot of attention because people don't realize he's a redshirt. Not quite sure why (Gene) Chizik redshirted him. I think that was a big mistake. He's in the top 10, 15 easy if he comes out."

Iowa junior Brandon Scherff (6-5˝, 320) would be another first- or second-round pick if he declares. He'll be a better guard, according to one scout. Junior Antonio Richardson (6-6, 327) of Tennessee isn't consistent but might be a late first-round choice.

Of the guard and center group, one scout said: "I don't think there's any great players inside. It's not like last year."

With Oregon's Marcus Mariota deciding to return, it looks like a four-way contest to be the first passer taken among senior Derek Carr of Fresno State (6-2˝, 215), juniors Teddy Bridgewater (6-3, 205) of Louisville and Blake Bortles (6-3, 230) of Central Florida, and redshirt sophomore Johnny Manziel (5-11, 210) of Texas A&M.

"You've got to pick and choose what flavor you want," one scout said. "Do you want the pocket passer? That's Bortles, McCarron, Mettenberger.

"Or do you want the athlete in Manziel or Bridgewater? There will probably be three in the first. Depends what people think of Johnny Manziel."

Manziel, who beat Alabama in winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012, was compared by one scout to Hall of Fame scrambler Fran Tarkenton. There are character issues, however, that will put off some teams.

"He reminds me a little bit of (Joe) Montana," one scout said. "Fluid, and even though he's off-balance he can get the ball out. He's a smaller guy but he has big hands for a little guy. He's fun to watch."

Bridgewater can throw from the pocket and is an adequate runner. "Not even close to Cam Newton," one scout said. "Skinny son of a buck. He's not as dynamic a runner as everybody thinks."

Carr's brother, David, was the first pick in the 2002 draft.

"Tougher than his brother," said one scout. "Pretty athletic. Great arm talent. Even though he hasn't thrown many interceptions he's a little erratic in his decision-making."

McCarron, said one scout, "has won a bunch of games but doesn't have a great arm." Mettenberger blew out his knee Nov. 29.

RUNNING BACKS

One scout said Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon (6-1, 210), a redshirt sophomore, would have been the first back taken before his decision Friday to go back to school.

"Oh, (expletive)," the scout said Saturday after being informed that Gordon was off the board. "He was first-round good. He's like (the Chargers') Ryan Mathews."

Earlier in the week, an NFC scout said he could see Gordon being the first back selected but probably not until the second round. An AFC personnel man called Gordon a second-round pick.

Minus Gordon, it's possible there won't be a first-round running back. There was just one in 1984 and 2011. Green Bay's Eddie Lacy would be the first selected if he had returned for a final season at Alabama, one scout said.

"Going into the year I was worried about the running back group," said one scout. "I still am."

Who will be the first to go?

"Could be a lot of guys," one scout replied. "Could be Carlos Hyde. Could be Ka'Deem Carey. Could be Charles Sims (of West Virginia). Could be Tre Mason. They're all packed together."

Said another scout: "He doesn't play hard all the time. In college, he'd get three guys on him every play. He's still able to make plays whenever he wants to. He might be the first pick."

The best of the base ends might be Notre Dame junior Stephon Tuitt (6-6, 312). "Probably can play in any scheme," one scout said. "Young kid. Versatile athlete. Just growing into his large frame. He's a first-rounder."

Undersized pass rushers Trent Murphy (6-5, 261) of Stanford, Demarcus Lawrence (6-3, 245) of Boise State, Chris Smith (6-2˝, 268) of Arkansas and Trevor Reilly (6-4˝, 255) of Utah will start coming into play late in the first round.

"Murphy led the nation in sacks (14)," one scout said. "He played down but he's really an outside backer. Lawrence can rush the passer. Riley is a tweener."

Reilley's age (26) will hurt him. Smith had 8˝ sacks as an end in a 4-3 defense but might be better served standing up in a 3-4. Ealy (6-5, 275) came on late in the season and appears able to fit either scheme.

Notre Dame junior Louis Nix (6-2, 345), described by one scout as the "prototypical nose tackle," looks like a late first-round pick.

"There's not a lot of big beef," said one scout. "That's why Nix will go high."

Minnesota's Ra'Shede Hageman (6-5˝, 311) will try to dispel impressions that he's inconsistent and an off-field risk at the Senior Bowl.

"He's had a really good year," one scout said. "This kid kind of came out of nowhere. When he wants to crank it up he's hard to block at that level. He's a big man with a lot of ability. He would benefit big-time from going to the Senior Bowl and kicking (expletive) for a week."

Senior Will Sutton (5-11˝, 330) of Arizona State put on too much weight this season.

"He's probably a little bit puffy," one scout said. "He's got the natural leverage and pretty good balance and pretty good feet. But you've got to worry about his arm length."

"Probably more (weak side) in the NFL but he could play inside in a 3-4," one scout said. "Extremely smart. Explosive. Fast. An all-intangible type kid. I think coaches are going to fall in love with him.

"But, outside of Mosley, the rest of them (inside) are kind of thumper types."

Junior Denzel Perryman (6-0, 240) of Miami was regarded as a little better athlete and a better player than former "U" middle linebacker Jon Beason, a seven-year NFL starter.

Florida State senior Christian Jones (6-3˝, 240) can run. Tennessee junior A.J. Johnson (6-2, 243) is talented and productive but there are questions about his ability to handle an NFL system.

"Beasley was on fire with the sacks early and kind of leveled off," one scout said. "He'll have to be an outside backer or maybe a situational pass rusher.

"You don't want to love Van Noy when you watch him. But then you look at the stat line and all he does is have production."

Ohio State junior Ryan Shazier (6-2, 230) is a classic "will" linebacker in a 4-3.

"I don't think he's as tough as Lavonte David but he's going to be faster," said one scout. "He runs like a deer. You'd have to think about him over Mosley. Mosley's a better player (now) but Shazier could be rare."

DEFENSIVE BACKS

At least one cornerback has been selected among the top 20 picks in every draft since 2001.

"Is there a great corner this year?" one scout said. "The guy from Michigan State and the guy from Oklahoma State and the guy from Ohio State are pretty good. But they're 20 to 50."

The Spartans' Darqueze Dennard (5-11, 197), a senior, and the Cowboys' Justin Gilbert (5-11˝, 200), another senior, both play mostly press coverage.

"Dennard's game really improved as the season's gone along," one scout said. "Got some size. Gilbert has some size, ball skills. He's just a solid player."

The Buckeyes' Bradley Roby (5-11, 192) a junior, should work out well at the combine, where his character issues also will be scrutinized.

"You've got to do your homework on him," said one scout. "But he's an explosive, fast player. Can play man or zone."

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

LaMarcus Joyner is going to be a special player. He played CB and S and has looked good at both. He can line up at nickel CB or FS/SS. He's an absolute missile. Kind of reminds me of Shamarko Thomas/Troy Polamalu. This guy absolutely loves to hit. He has unbelievable closing speed too. I would love to see the Rams take him in round 2 to pair with T.J McDonald.

LaMarcus Joyner is going to be a special player. He played CB and S and has looked good at both. He can line up at nickel CB or FS/SS. He's an absolute missile. Kind of reminds me of Shamarko Thomas/Troy Polamalu. This guy absolutely loves to hit. He has unbelievable closing speed too. I would love to see the Rams take him in round 2 to pair with T.J McDonald.

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

I don't know who these "personnel men" are, but I've seen many quotes from commentators who have worked as scouts or GMs who have ranked Matthews at the top of the draft board - in some cases asserting that he's a better prospect than Luke Joekel.

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

Originally Posted by AvengerRam

I don't know who these "personnel men" are, but I've seen many quotes from commentators who have worked as scouts or GMs who have ranked Matthews at the top of the draft board - in some cases asserting that he's a better prospect than Luke Joekel.

I am no expert on Jake Matthews, but one advantage he will bring with him coming into the NFL is his dad. From his days with the Elkins Knights in high school, through to the present, his dad undoubtedly provided Jake with invaluable insights, technique refinements etc., etc.

Like many O-line prospects entering the draft, (Barett Jones comes to mind) Jake may need a year of hitting the weights, to add more strength and bulk. That said, his bloodlines are what they are. (He is also the cousin of Clay Matthews, a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and Casey Matthews, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles.)

It certainly is an enormous boon to have a dad with the credentials Bruce M. possesses. To be coached all through your school years by a Hall of Fame lineman who could play any position on the line, has to provide a huge advantage. This will not be a kid who can't learn the playbook. Rokevious Watkins, Alex Barron, or Jason Smith.

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

Of course he would have to declare, but we might be in a better position with Greg Robinson than Jake Mathews. My logic is after yesterday's injury to Jake Long, we're likely going to need to find way to re-sign Rodger Saffold to play LT until Jake is ready to come back. Once he's back, Saffold either plays RG or RT. Dahl is almost certainly gone due to his cap #. You already have Barksdale on the right side so Robinson who is young could serve as a back-up LT as long as Long is with the team. If you draft Mathews you don't want to sit a 4-year starter for another few years. Of course so much time between now and the draft plus the Combine.

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

Thanks Nick.

Auburn kid Greg Robinson is an interesting player. Fisher I'm sure has the book on him. I could see us moving back if we have the 2nd pick to load up on draft picks. Take Mike Evans around 12 and then Greg Robinson with our own pick if we are picking 22nd after we beat the Hawks.

Re: Bob McGinn's Early look at the NFL draft

Originally Posted by Rambos

Thanks Nick.

Auburn kid Greg Robinson is an interesting player. Fisher I'm sure has the book on him. I could see us moving back if we have the 2nd pick to load up on draft picks. Take Mike Evans around 12 and then Greg Robinson with our own pick if we are picking 22nd after we beat the Hawks.

If we trade back and miss out on Matthews I could see this kid brought in with the pick we traded down to.